Holiday Inn Express London Heathrow T5: the complete traveller's guide
A modern, good-value IHG budget hotel on the Slough side of the airport, with free breakfast, EV charging and an ideal position for both Terminal 5 and a Windsor/LEGOLAND trip. An honest, detailed rundown — rooms, prices, the free breakfast, parking, WiFi, accessibility, reaching T5, and the smartest way to book.
Hotel overview
Holiday Inn Express London Heathrow T5 is a modern, comfortable IHG budget hotel on the Slough side of the airport, about two to three miles (a 10-minute drive) from Terminal 5. It delivers the reliable Express formula — a free Express Start breakfast, clean contemporary rooms and good value — with a couple of useful extras: EV charging, and a location just outside the ULEZ that's genuinely handy for a Windsor or LEGOLAND trip as well as a T5 flight.
With 300 rooms, the Great Room Restaurant & Bar (dinner and drinks), seven meeting rooms and Green Key sustainability accreditation, it's aimed at both business and leisure travellers. There's no swimming pool — this is a focused, value-first hotel — but rooms are soundproofed and well-equipped, and there's a complimentary shuttle to the nearby Stockley Park and Bedfont Lakes business parks.
It suits T5 flyers, families visiting LEGOLAND/Windsor, business travellers heading to the Slough/Stockley Park corporate cluster, and park-and-fly drivers (especially with an electric car). Two honest points: it's not terminal-connected — despite what one or two listings suggest — and parking is a paid extra, so plan both.
| Official website | ihg.com |
|---|---|
| Address | Terminal 5, 5 London Road, Slough, SL3 8QB |
| Star rating | 3-star (Express — budget) |
| Rooms | 300 modern rooms |
| Breakfast | Free Express Start breakfast included |
| Check-in / check-out | From 3:00 PM (some rates 2:00 PM) / by 12:00 noon |
| Distance to T5 | ~2–3 miles (~10-min drive); not terminal-connected |
| Parking | Extensive on-site (paid) + EV charging |
Star rating and what it means
Holiday Inn Express is IHG's budget, focused-service brand, typically rated 3-star. It does the essentials well — a clean modern room, a free breakfast — without full-service facilities.
| Level | What it broadly means in the UK |
|---|---|
| ★★★★★ Five-star | Luxury: extensive facilities, near-flawless service |
| ★★★★ Four-star | Upscale: full-service, restaurant, good facilities |
| ★★★ Three-star (this hotel) | Budget focused-service: comfortable modern rooms, free breakfast, bar/restaurant — value & the Windsor/T5 location are the draw |
| ★★ / ★ Budget | Simple, functional accommodation |
A reliable three-star: reviewers (~8/10) rate value for money, room size and facilities well, and praise the breakfast. You're paying for a comfortable, modern, well-located budget stay with breakfast included — not pool/spa extras.
Brand, ownership & business profile
A Holiday Inn Express hotel under IHG.
- Holiday Inn Express — IHG's budget, focused-service brand: modern, reliable, with free breakfast and WiFi included as standard, aimed at value-conscious business and leisure travellers.
- IHG Hotels & Resorts — the parent group (InterContinental Hotels Group), running brands from budget to luxury.
You earn and redeem IHG One Rewards points here, with member perks via the IHG app. Note there's a separate Holiday Inn Express nearer Terminal 4 (which is terminal-connected) — this is the Slough-side T5 hotel, so check which one you're booking.
Where Holiday Inn Express sits in IHG's ladder
| Tier | IHG brands (selected) | Positioning |
|---|---|---|
| Budget / express | Holiday Inn Express, avid, Candlewood | Value, essentials + free breakfast (this hotel) |
| Full-service mainstream | Holiday Inn, Garner | Comfortable, family-friendly |
| Premium | Crowne Plaza, voco, Hotel Indigo | Upscale & design-led |
| Luxury | InterContinental, Kimpton, Regent, Six Senses | Premium & luxury |
Business profile
| Category | 3-star budget airport hotel (focused-service, Slough side) |
|---|---|
| Primary market | T5 flyers, LEGOLAND/Windsor families, Slough/Stockley Park business, park-and-fly |
| Brand / parent | Holiday Inn Express / IHG Hotels & Resorts |
| Loyalty programme | IHG One Rewards |
| Scale | 300 rooms · Great Room Restaurant & Bar · 7 meeting rooms (up to 120) · EV charging · Green Key accredited |
Takeaway for travellers: a dependable, modern IHG Express with free breakfast and a versatile location — good for a T5 flight, a Windsor/LEGOLAND break or a Slough business trip, with IHG One Rewards points.
Rooms, beds & prices
300 modern standard double, twin, family and accessible rooms. All have a comfy bed with a choice of soft or firm pillows, air conditioning, soundproofing, an en-suite with a power shower, satellite TV, tea/coffee facilities, a work desk and an in-room safe. Connecting rooms and free cots are available for families. Rates are among the lower at Heathrow and typically include breakfast; ranges below are indicative.
| Room type | Beds | Sleeps | Off-peak from | Peak from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Double | Double | 2 | ~£60 | ~£115 |
| Twin | Two singles | 2 | ~£65 | ~£120 |
| Family Room | Double + sofa/pull-out | 3–4 | ~£85 | ~£150 |
| Accessible Room | Double or twin | 2 | ~£60 | ~£115 |
Prices are per room, per night, and typically include the free Express Start breakfast for up to two adults sharing — good value near Heathrow. Reviewers rate room size and facilities well, and the soundproofing keeps rooms quiet. Free cots are provided; extra breakfast guests pay a fee.
- Bed quality: comfortable beds with a choice of pillows; quiet, soundproofed rooms.
- Large & family rooms: family and connecting rooms available.
- Baby facilities: free cots/infant beds on request.
What's in every room
| Category | Included in every room |
|---|---|
| Entertainment | Satellite/flat-screen TV |
| Connectivity | Free WiFi; work desk |
| Hot drinks | Tea & coffee making facilities |
| Sleep | Choice of soft or firm pillows; soundproofing |
| Bathroom | En-suite with a power shower, toiletries, hairdryer |
| Comfort | Air conditioning; in-room safe |
Solid budget essentials done well: a power shower, a pillow choice and effective soundproofing all help you rest before an early flight — which is what most guests are here for.
Dining & the free breakfast
The headline is the free Express Start breakfast — a buffet with hot and cold options — and the Great Room Restaurant & Bar handles dinner and drinks (food served roughly 18:00–22:30), with outside dining on sunny days. There's also a snack bar/deli and vending for odd hours.
| Venue / meal | What to expect | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Express Start breakfast | Free buffet — hot & cold items to start the day | Included in room rate |
| Great Room Restaurant & Bar | Dinner mains & drinks, ~18:00–22:30; outdoor dining | £10–£18 mains |
| Snack bar / deli | Light bites & grab-and-go | Deli prices |
| Vending | Snacks & drinks any time | Vending prices |
The free breakfast is a genuine highlight and part of the value — reviewers praise its variety and quality. Note the restaurant serves dinner in the evening only (from 18:00), so plan lunch elsewhere or use the deli/vending.
Facilities & services
| Parking | Extensive on-site self-parking (paid, subject to availability); EV charging; park-and-fly packages |
|---|---|
| Airport transfer | Heathrow Hoppa to Terminal 5 (paid); complimentary shuttle to Stockley Park & Bedfont Lakes business parks; taxis; pre-booked cars. No free airport shuttle |
| Dining | Great Room Restaurant & Bar, snack bar/deli, outdoor dining, vending |
| Business & events | 7 meeting rooms (up to 120), business centre |
| Location perks | Outside the extended ULEZ; near Slough station (20 min to Paddington); great LEGOLAND/Windsor base |
| Money / SIM | Not on site — Slough/local shops & the terminals |
| Safety & security | 24-hour front desk, in-room safe, luggage storage, lifts; photo ID + card at check-in |
| Sustainability | Green Key accredited |
| Pool / pets | No swimming pool; pet policy varies — confirm with the hotel |
Accessibility & suitability for elderly guests
As a modern, lift-served hotel, it's a solid accessibility choice with accessible rooms, step-free public areas and generous on-site parking (including EV charging) — though it's on the Slough side and not terminal-connected, so the airport leg needs the Hoppa or a car.
Accessible strengths:
- Lifts to all floors and step-free public areas
- Accessible rooms available (contact the hotel for specific features)
- Extensive on-site parking with EV charging and accessible bays
- 24-hour front desk and luggage storage
Worth confirming first:
- It's a 10-minute drive from T5 and not connected — plan the transfer
- Book accessible parking ahead (parking is subject to availability)
- Accessible room numbers are limited — book early and state exact needs
Suitability verdict for elderly & less-mobile guests: good — a modern, lift-served hotel with accessible rooms and easy, generous parking. As it's a short drive from T5 with no covered connection, a door-to-door car is the smoothest way to reach the terminal.
Insider details
It's the Slough-side T5 hotel — and it's NOT terminal-connected
Worth getting right: this is the Slough-side Holiday Inn Express, about a 10-minute drive from Terminal 5. One or two listing sites incorrectly describe a "covered walkway to Terminal 4" — that text belongs to the different Holiday Inn Express by Terminal 4. This T5 hotel has no covered walkway and is not terminal-connected; you reach T5 by the Hoppa, a taxi or a car. Don't book it expecting to walk to a terminal.
A strong Windsor / LEGOLAND base
Beyond flights, this hotel's location is a genuine asset for a family trip: Windsor Castle, Windsor Racecourse and LEGOLAND Windsor are all a short drive away, and it sits just outside the extended ULEZ, so you avoid the daily charge if you're driving. Combine a pre-flight night with a theme-park day and it works well.
Free breakfast + EV charging = a good park-and-fly pick
Two practical wins for drivers: the breakfast is included, and there's EV charging on site — still relatively uncommon at budget airport hotels — plus extensive parking and park-and-fly packages. If you're driving an electric car to the airport, this is a sensible base.
WiFi coverage & signal strength
Free WiFi runs throughout the hotel and in rooms. Signal-strength-by-area detail (which floors are strongest) isn't published — confirm with hotel, or share guest reviews and we'll add specifics.
General guidance for a modern budget hotel: signal is typically reliable throughout, best in the lobby/bar and meeting areas. IHG One Rewards members can use the app for mobile services.
Practical information
| Check-in | From 3:00 PM (some rates 2:00 PM; on request) |
|---|---|
| Check-out | By 12:00 noon (late check-out on request) |
| ID at check-in | Photo ID + payment card required |
| Breakfast | Free Express Start buffet (up to 2 adults on included rates) |
| Parking | Extensive on-site (paid, subject to availability); EV charging |
| WiFi | Free throughout the hotel and in rooms |
| Pool / pets | No pool; pet policy varies — confirm with the hotel |
| Payment | Cards & cash; card required for incidentals |
Getting to the terminals
The hotel is a short drive from T5 but not connected, so it's the Hoppa, a taxi or a pre-booked car (or rail via Slough for London).
| To… | Best way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 5 | Heathrow Hoppa, taxi or car | ~10 min | Hoppa ~£5–6; taxi ~£12–15 |
| Terminals 2 & 3 | Hoppa or car; then Heathrow Central | ~15–20 min | Hoppa fare; taxi ~£15–18 |
| Terminal 4 | Hoppa/car to a central terminal, then free inter-terminal train; or taxi | ~20–30 min | Hoppa + free train; taxi ~£18–22 |
| Central London | Rail from Slough station to Paddington (~20 min); or Elizabeth line via Heathrow | ~20–50 min | Rail fare |
The Hoppa serves T5; for other terminals you route via a central terminal (T4 needs the free inter-terminal train). There's a complimentary shuttle to the Stockley Park/Bedfont Lakes business parks, but no free airport shuttle. For a guaranteed door-to-door pickup with luggage, an early flight or a family, a pre-booked RushXO car is simplest and covers every terminal 24/7.
Customer reviews
The hotel reviews well for a budget property (around 8/10), with the free breakfast, room size, cleanliness, value and helpful staff the main positives; the Slough-side location (a drive from T5) and paid parking are the usual caveats.
| Theme | What guests say |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Free buffet praised for variety and quality |
| Rooms | Clean, modern, good-sized; quiet thanks to soundproofing |
| Value & staff | Good value for money; helpful, multilingual staff |
| Location | Great for LEGOLAND/Windsor & Slough business; handy for T5 |
| Common gripe | A drive from T5 (not connected); paid parking; no pool |
Ratings are indicative (~8/10) — confirm current numbers on your preferred platform. Share specific reviews and I can add a scored breakdown like the Sofitel guide.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free Express Start breakfast included — well-rated for variety
- Modern, clean, soundproofed rooms; choice of pillows & power shower
- Excellent Windsor/LEGOLAND base; outside the ULEZ
- EV charging & extensive parking — good for park-and-fly with an EV
- Great Room Restaurant & Bar; 7 meeting rooms; complimentary business-park shuttle
- IHG One Rewards; Green Key sustainability; free cots
Cons
- Not terminal-connected — a ~10-min drive from T5 (ignore "covered walkway" listings)
- Parking is a paid extra, subject to availability
- No swimming pool
- Restaurant serves dinner only (from 18:00)
- Slough side — further from central terminals (T2/3/4)
Travel tips
- Flying from T5 or visiting LEGOLAND? This is a versatile pick — handy for both, and outside the ULEZ.
- Take advantage of the free breakfast — it's included and well-rated.
- Driving an EV? Book here — on-site EV charging plus park-and-fly packages.
- Don't expect to walk to a terminal — it's a 10-minute drive from T5; ignore any "covered walkway" listing (that's the T4 hotel).
- Book parking ahead — it's paid and subject to availability.
- Plan lunch elsewhere — the restaurant serves dinner from 18:00; use the deli/vending in the day.
- Pre-book your onward car — for any terminal, an early flight or a family with luggage, a fixed-fare door-to-door transfer is simplest.
Best way to book online
| Book via | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Official site (ihg.com) | Best-rate guarantee, IHG One Rewards points, free-breakfast rates, app services | Confirm parking; it's the Slough-side T5 hotel |
| IHG app | Member rates, points, mobile services | Need to be a (free) member |
| Park-and-fly specialists | Bundling room + long-stay parking (good for EV drivers) | Check car park & transfer terms |
| Major OTAs | Comparing dates & deals | Don't confuse with the connected Holiday Inn Express T4; ignore "covered walkway" text here |
In short: book directly with IHG for the best rate, a breakfast-included plan and Rewards perks — making sure it's the Terminal 5 (Slough) hotel, not the terminal-connected T4 Express. Add parking if you're driving. Then book your airport transfer with RushXO for a fixed-fare door-to-door ride to any terminal.
Book your transfer → · Call the 24/7 team
FAQs
Is the hotel connected to Terminal 5?
No — this is the Slough-side Holiday Inn Express, about a 10-minute drive from Terminal 5, with no covered walkway. (Some listings wrongly copy the Terminal 4 hotel's "covered walkway" text — that's a different property.) Reach T5 by the Hoppa, a taxi or a pre-booked car.
Is breakfast included?
Yes — the free Express Start breakfast buffet is included on most rates for up to two adults sharing, and it's well-rated for variety. Extra guests pay a breakfast fee.
Is it good for LEGOLAND or Windsor?
Yes — it's a short drive from LEGOLAND Windsor, Windsor Castle and Windsor Racecourse, and sits just outside the extended ULEZ, making it a strong family base for combining a flight or theme-park trip.
How much is parking, and is there EV charging?
There's extensive on-site parking (paid, subject to availability) plus EV charging — useful for park-and-fly, especially with an electric car. Long-term packages are available.
Is there a pool?
No — there's no swimming pool. It's a focused-service budget hotel; the value is the free breakfast and the location.
Is it the same as the Holiday Inn Express Heathrow T4?
No — that's a separate hotel that is connected to Terminal 4 by a covered walkway. This guide covers the Slough-side Terminal 5 hotel, which is a short drive from T5 and not terminal-connected.